Voi Reintegration Unit

May 2008

Daily updates

May 1st

See the Voi Orphans Overview for May 2008

A wild bull

May 2nd

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Burra at the stockade

May 3rd

In the evening, Natumi’s now wild group of orphans visited the Stockades, and were in high spirits, indulging in their Stockade games after drinking at the trough, which provided their erstwhile Keepers with loads of fun. Lolokwe took on Mweya initially for a pushing game, and then took a ride on her back before being dislodged.

Lolokwe & Mweya enjoying a drink at the stockade

May 4th

Natumi’s group again visited the Stockades, but only briefly, before leaving again for the bush

Natumi having a drink at the stockade

May 5th

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Emily bathing in shallow waters

May 6th

Natumi’s group paid another visit to the Stockades today, but did not stay long. They then left and were not sighted again for several days.

Mweya has a gulp of water

May 7th

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Icholta at the stockade

May 8th

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Laikipia & Aitong feeding

May 9th

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A wild boy playing

May 10th

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Nyiro

May 11th

Natumi’s group were sighted on the Eastern side of Mazinga Hill, this time in the company of a young wild bull to whom Sosian and Mukwaju were paying a great deal of attention, feeding close to him and following him wherever he went. Seraa enjoyed scratching her head against his buttocks. The wild boy was with the ex orphans for the whole day.

Mukwaju & the a wild bull

May 12th

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Loisaba tussles with a wild boy

May 13th

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Solango and Burra side by side

May 14th

Emily’s group of now wild orphans, who had not been seen for over half a month, were spotted drinking and taking a bath at a natural waterhole on the western side of Mazinga Hill. Natumi’s group and the wild boy they had earlier recruited were amongst them. During the process Emily separated from the orphans to greet a large wild herd who were approaching the waterhole to drink, and along with them, rejoined the large orphaned herd, forming one huge herd of now wild elephants. By now it was late in the evening, and the entire congregation of elephants then crossed the Voi River to feed in the bushy area of the river circuit.

Wild group taking a bath with Emily watching

May 15th

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Irima

May 16th

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Seraa stretching her trunk to touch a wild boy

May 17th

Natumi’s group came to the Stockades today, and had another wild bull amongst them, who was at first nervous because of the presence of the Keepers, but settled down upon noticing that the orphans were friendly towards us. Natumi went into her former Stockade for old time’s sake where she enjoyed some soft green grass that was now growing there, the Stockade having been unoccupied for many months. Meanwhile the others waited for her to emerge so that she could lead the way, the wild boy standing outside the Stockade, but close to Natumi begging her to come out. He indeed succeeded in this quest, and they all left towards the western side of Mazinga Hill.

Orpahns enjoy a drink with a wild boy

May 18th

Emily’s and Natumi’s group appeared together on the Southern side of Mazinga Hill, the friendly wild boy still with them. Salama and Nyiro were observed engaging one another in a strength testing bout.

A wild bull with Emily

May 19th

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Serena and a wild baby zebra

May 20th

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Two wild boys

May 21th

Emily’s group along with that of Natumi appeared in a rush to drink water at a waterhole on the Southern side of the hill, scaring off a wild herd who were already drinking there in the process. One teenaged wild boy returned from the wild herd and Laikipia went to intercept him on the far side of the waterhole and attempted to prevent him from accessing the orphans’ side. After a struggle the wild boy managed and engaged Loisaba in a pushing game. After a while he returned to his own herd.

Laikipia teasing a wild boy

May 22th

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Vita

May 23th

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Thoma with a wild bull drinking at the stockade

May 24th

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Emily's group with a wild group

May 25th

Emily’s group along with that of Natumi were seen together with a large wild herd, all taking water at the same waterhole where they had been seen on the 21st.

Orpahns drinking with a big wild group

May 26th

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Laikipia

May 27th

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A wild bull feeding at the stockade

May 28th

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Mukwaju out and about

May 29th

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Emily with the wild bull

May 30th

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Solango

May 31th

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Edie browsing

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